DTM alumnae Soe Soe Myar (4th batch graduate) and Chee Ee Laine (1st batch graduate) participated in the Global Sports Mentoring Program initiated by the U.S. Department of State. This one-month program focuses on empowering women sports leaders from around the world to create sports opportunity for disadvantaged populations and promote gender equality in terms of balancing the total number of women participating in sports by providing a mentoring program.
During the participation period, Soe Soe Myar and Chee Ee Laine developed detailed action plans to rise to the challenges facing underserved and disadvantaged populations through sports. Soe Soe Myar, a Deputy Director of Ministry of Health and Sports, Myanmar presented her action plan, “Count Them In,” for empowering young girls through sports in her country. She was mentored by executives at United States Tennis Association (USTA). Chee EeLaine, an international sports programming consultant and general secretary of the Malaysian Ice Hockey Federation, presented her action plan to introduce a sustainable women’s ice hockey program in her country. She was mentored by an executive at NHL.
[Chee EeLaine worked with the NHL team on a plan for creating a sustainable Malaysian women’s ice hockey program. (Source: Global Sports Mentoring Program)]
By participating in the program, Soe Soe wishes to improve her leadership, fundraising, and sports management skills in order to ensure the sustainability of her national taekwondo program and make a new plan for adults and seniors in Myanmar using a healthy-aging program. “Young girls can be taught through sport. I want to make them feel confident that they will be able to change the world through sports,” said Soe Soe. By participating in the GSMP, EeLaine seeks way to develop a network and a plan for increasing female sports leadership in Malaysia and ensure sustainable growth of Malaysian ice hockey.
